Nxp B.v.

Nexperia B.v.

Harold Garth Hanson

Siamak Delshadpour

Sharad Murari

Dominicus M Roozeboom

Xu Zhang

Madan Mohan Reddy Vemula

Ge Wang

A protection circuit including a pad configured to input an external voltage from a connector, a first circuit branch connected to the pad and configured to receive a fast ramp-up surge at the pad, a second circuit branch connected to the pad and configured to receive a ramp-up surge at the pad, a third circuit branch connected to the pad and configured to output a surge detection signal when a surge voltage is received at the pad, an enabling transistor connected between the second circuit branch and the third circuit branch, at least one switch to be protected, and a controller configured to control components of the second circuit branch and third circuit branch of the protection circuit based on an on-state of the at least one switch to be protected.

Fast over voltage and surge detection for high speed and load switches

A low-leakage circuit including a switch having an input node, gate, bulk region, and pin node, a comparison circuit configured to determine and output a greater of two voltages of the switch, a latching circuit connected to the comparison circuit and configured to bias the gate and the bulk region of the switch using the greater of the two voltages, and a shorting circuit configured to control a voltage at the bulk region to ensure that no leakage current flows from the pin node.

Low leakage switch control circuit

One example discloses a watchdog circuit: wherein the watchdog circuit is configured to receive a primary ground from a primary power supply, and a backup ground from a backup power supply; wherein the watchdog circuit includes a ground switch coupled to the primary ground and the backup ground; and wherein the ground switch is configured to isolate the primary ground from the backup ground in response to a fault signal.

Watchdog circuit

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to detecting and powering external circuits via a common port. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an accessory detection circuit detects a type of an external circuit based upon a pull-down resistance at an interface port (e.g., where each accessory type provides a discernable pull-down resistance). Power switching circuitry couples power between the interface port and an internal power-based circuit, and operates in an open condition when the accessory detection circuit is active. An adaptive biasing circuit sets a voltage across the power switching circuitry to about zero, based on a voltage level provided on the interface port, thereby mitigating changes in the pull-down resistance due to current leakage. Once the type of external circuit is identified, the power switching circuitry couples power between the external circuit and the internal circuit.

Interface apparatus with leakage mitigation

A state-detection circuit facilitates the detection of the state of an input pin relative to several different types of input circuits. According to an example embodiment, a state-detection circuit includes a plurality of comparators and circuit components, configured to provide a plurality of binary output signals that collectively indicate a state of an input pin to which the comparators are coupled. The state-detection circuit is configured to facilitate the detection of several different types of input circuits, based upon the binary output signals.

Input pin state detection circuit and method therefor

Arrangement for accepting an input signal in a first voltage range and producing an output signal in a second voltage range. A transition detection circuit () detects a transition from a high level to a low level of the input signal and a control circuit () operates a first FET to produce the low level of the output signal. A second FET is operated by the high level of the input signal to output the high level of the output signal.

Growing community of inventors

Queen Creek, AZ, United States of America

Harold Garth Hanson